Banjo construction



Patented July 19, 1927. 1'

Unirse STATES ALBERT D. GB01-TER, OF LONG ISLAND CITY, NEW YORK.

BANJO CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed October 25, 1924. Serial N0. 745,855.

My invention relates to certain iinjjirove-l ments in banjo construction.

The invention has for its object to`provide a rim construction, for a stringed musin cal instrument of this character, having a closed back or resonator and being further provided with openings for the emission of sound in a forwardly direction from the instrument.

Banjos of the usual construction include a plurality of brackets and straining screws disposed about the head. portion, and at the periphery thereof, which might be referred to as the under portion, these brackets come in contact with theknee of the artist, in fact after considerable use a bruise is often caused and the clot-hing badly worn by the sharp projections 'forming parts of the brackets. It is a further purpose, therefore, of the present invention to vafford a protecting ring disposed about the banjo head so as to prevent the brackets from coming in contact with the clothing and to present a smooth surface which may be sup ported upon the knee without tending to injure the flesh. 1

The invention is illustratively exemplified in the Aaccompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a banjo equipped with my improvements; Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on lines 2 2 of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an elevational view on an enlarged scale of a banjo rim showing my improved construction; Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view of the rim and protecting` ring taken on lines 4-11 of Figure 3; and Figure 5 is a similar view taken on lines 5-5 of FigureB.

Referring to the drawings, denotes a banjobody portion comprising a wood rim 11 supported at the end of the usual neck construction 12. The rim 11 is secured to the neck by means of a rod 13 project-ing across the body and having its ends threaded to receive a nut 14 at the neck end and to screw into a portion of a bracket 15 at the opposite end. A sleeve member 16 is placed over the rod 13 so that the opposite ends of the sleeve abut the inner wall of the wooden rim 11, as clearly illustrated in Figure 2.

The rim 11 comprises an annular wood member having al continuous groove 17, in its upper end and adjacent the outer periphery thereof., to receive a wire ring 18 over which the head 19 is stretched to be held in taut position by means of a movable tension ring 20 engaging downwardlyfagainst a skin hoop 21 about which the margin of the head is folded in the ordinary manner. The tension ring 2O is composed of material which is rectangular in cross section and the upper end is provided with a continuous groove 22 to receive the hooks 23 of straining screws 2a adjustable in brackets 25'. It will be clear thatl any adjustment of the screws 24 will tend to either tighten or loosen the strain on the lhead 19. The wood rim 11 is further provided with a plurality of spaced openings 26 through which the sound waves may escape from the interior of the head cham-` ber. In addition to the openings 2G a second series of openings 27 is drilled through the wood wall adjacent the lower end thereof to receive the screws 28 which holdthe angular brackets25, each of the lat-ter being provided with a lateral opening to enable the threaded lower end of a straining screw 211 to project therethrough and receive a nut BO.

The screws 24 and nuts 80 are protected by means of a laterally disposed ring 31, which is an annular channel piece, the closed end of which forms the greater periphery o and the open end is of a size to closely cms brace the outer periphery of the rim 11. lWhat may be termed the upper wall of the ring 31 is adapted to rest against the under surface of the slices 29 and is provided with a plurality of openings which register with the lateral openings in the shoe and receive the end of the straining screws 211, the nut 30 being tightened against the wall of the ring to hold it in rigid position. It will be clear, of course, that in accordance with this construction, the toes of the shoes 29 are protected, since the periphery of the ring 31 is slightly greater than that of the annular line formed by the toes of the shoes, and further the nuts 30 and depending ends of the strain-- ing screws are disposed behind the walls of the ring.

Insertable in the lower wall of the ring 31 is a resonator wall or disc 32, which combines with the ring to form a closed back for the instrument, and which is positioned and spaced from the lower end of the wood rim 11 by means of a bridge piece 33, the latter comprising a straight substantially narrow strip of metal diametrically disposed across the lower end of the rim and having its opposite ends turned downwardly at right angles to abut the adjacent surface of the resonator 32. Disposed at a point in the strip 33 coincident with the geometric center of the head chamber and resonator, isa downwardly projecting boss 34 having a threaded bore to receive a screw 35, the head of which rests against the resonator and by adjustment of the screw 35 the strip or bridge 33 and resonator 32 may be drawn tightly together. The bridge piece is attached to the vwood rim 1l by screws 36 which merely project through the strip and screw into the rim, as shown in Figure 2.

In order yto guide the sound vibrations in a forwardly direction from the face of the instrument the upper wall ot the channel ring 3l is provided with a series of openings 37 arranged between the openings for the straining screws.

The features of my invention include a protecting ring 31 which is attached to a banjo by suitable brackets, straining screws and nuts, and whichis provided with openings for the emission of sound in conjunction with a resonator covering the entire back of the banjo, the entire unit being capable of removal from the wooden rim.

What I claim Y 1. In a banjo, a Wooden rim section, and a protect-ing ring embracing the outer periphery of the rim and comprising an annular channel piece having openings directed towards the front of the instrument.

2. In a banjo, a wooden rim section, and a protecting, ring embracing the outer peprotecting ring closely embracing the outer periphery of the rim, a disc portion overlying the outer periphery of the rim, and a bridge member attached to the said rim and being disposed between the latter and the disc to locate and space the disc with respect to the rim.

In a banjo, a wooden rim, a head adjustable over said rim, means for adjustingr the head comprising brackets secured to the rim, straining screws carried by the shoefr T and engaging the head to vary the tension thereof, a protectingring embracing the outer periphery of the rim and comprising a channel piece having its closed side disposed outwardly, one side being seated f1 against the shoes and having openings to receive the straining screws therethrough and additional intermediate openings for emission of sound, a nut for each straining screw adjustable against the side adjacent the shoe, and a resonator disc overlying the closed end of the rim.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ALBERT D. GROVER. 

